Supporting column

ABSTRACT

A supporting column to which supporting members are attachable which in turn support shelves, brackets, partitions and the like. The column comprises at least one longitudinal member composed of a sleeve provided therein with a lengthwise extending core having radial ribs, the outer edges of which engage tightly the inner wall of the sleeve. The sleeve is provided with at least one circumferential groove of a radial depth which is equal to the wall thickness of the sleeve so that the ribs on the core are exposed and support members may be inserted into the spaces formed between the radial ribs. The longitudinal member preferably is made of at least two axially aligned and telescopically connected sleeves, each having a core with radial ribs therein. One sleeve has its core projecting from one of its ends to extend into the adjacent end of other sleeve which at this end has a portion of its core removed an axial distance which is shorter than the portion of the core extending from the first mentioned sleeve, thereby forming a groove between the two telescopically connected sleeves which permits the attachment of supporting members to the exposed core portion.

United States Patent Miiller [451 Oct. 17, 1972 SUPPORTING COLUMN Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. [72] Inventor: Hermann Miiller, 43 Zugerstrasse, Attorneysmger Stem & Carlberg 6330 Cham, Switzerland [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1969 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 4, 1968 Switzerland ..l640l/68 [52] US. Cl ..211/86, 248/159 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..211/57, 86, 175, 176, 177; 248/221, 235, 241, 159; 108/114, 151

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 868,310 10/1907 White et a1. ..312/265 1,431,823 l0/l922 Leconte ..108/114 1,878,765 9/1932 Ehrlich ..248/159 1,966,247 7/1934 Janssen ..242/131 2,341,635 2/1944 Loesch ..211/59 2,521,355 9/1950 Ford..... ..248/159 2,591,049 4/1952 Butsch ..211/177 X 3,035,708 5/1962 Freeman ..211/86 3,339,752 9/1967 Trogan ..21 1/177 3,479,991 11/1969 Lichtenberger ..108/151 X A supporting column to which supporting members are attachable which in turn support shelves, brackets, partitions and the like. The column comprises at least one longitudinal member composed of a sleeve provided therein with a lengthwise extending core having radial ribs, the outer edges of which engage tightly the inner wall of the sleeve. The sleeve is provided with at least one circumferential groove of a radial depth which is equal to the wall thickness of the sleeve so that the ribs on the core are exposed and support members may be inserted into the spaces formed between the radial ribs.

The longitudinal member preferably is made of at least two axially aligned and telescopically connected sleeves, each having a core with radial ribs therein. One sleeve has its core projecting from one of its ends to extend into the adjacent end of other sleeve which at this end has a portion of its core removed an axial distance which is shorter than the portion of the core extending from the first mentioned sleeve, thereby forming a groove between the two telescopically connected sleeves which permits the attachment of supporting members to the exposed core portion.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUum 17 I972 FIG. 4

IIJ

SUPPORTING COLUMN The invention relates to a supporting column for the reception of supporting members attached thereto.

Known supporting columns or supporting rods consist of one single piece of a round or square pipe or tube. Its transportation is therefore complicated. Additionally its length may be adapted to the requirements solely by shortening with a corresponding expenditure of work and loss of material. Multi-part supporting columns must be screwed together or keyed to one another, which likewise requires a considerable expenditure of work and additionally renders a disassembly difficult. Telescopically adjustable supporting columns must likewise be secured by means of screwing or connector bolts and have particularly in the latter case, a low stability against buckling.

Furthermore, in the known supporting columns, the supporting members, insofar as they are not connected to the supporting columns by threaded connections or the like, are only attachable with a low stability to the known supporting columns.

The object of the present invention is to prevent the disadvantages indicated. In accordance with the invention, the supporting column is characterized by at least one pipe element, which has a sleeve and a core located in the interior of the sleeve, whereby the core has radial ribs, the outer longitudinal edges of which are fixedly connected with the inner wall of the sleeve, the sleeve at least at one point along the supporting column is interrupted over its entire circumference in order to be able to insert a supporting member into the intermediary spaces (7, 8) produced at this point and bordered each by two ribs.

In accordance with the invention, the supporting column is used for the production of frame-type structures, which comprises several supporting columns which are connected with each other horizontally by supportingor bracing-elements insertably in the intermediary spaces.

The invention will be described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment by way of example of a multi-part supporting column;

FIG. 2 shows in cutaway portion a shelf provided with a supporting member attached to the column of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a supporting member for the supporting column of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the supporting column of FIG. 1 with inserted shelf of FIG. 2 and a supporting member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of another embodiment of a supporting column with inserted shelf and supporting member; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of a supporting column provided with longitudinal slots.

Referring to FIG. 1 the supporting column comprises two telescopically connected pipe elements 1 and 2. Each pipe element 1, 2 has a cylindrical sleeve 3 or 4, respectively, and a core 5 or 6, respectively, which consists of two webs crossing one another perpendicularly, whose edges are fixedly connected with the inner wall of the sleeve 3 or 4, respectively, and which extend with exception of the ends of the pipe elements 1 and 2 over their entire length. In the embodiment shown by way of example in FIG. 1, a portion of the sleeve 3 is removed from the upper end of the lower pipe element 1, so that its core 5 is exposed and projects freely upwardly. The same is the case with the upper end of the upper pipe element 2, so that its core 6 is exposed and projects freely beyond the upper end of the sleeve 4.

From the lower end of the upper pipe element 2, a portion of the core 6 is removed along a predetermined axial length. This permits the upper pipe element 2 to be mounted on the core 5 of the lower pipe element 1 in the manner shown. As the axial length of the freely projecting core 5 of the lower pipe element 1 is longer than the axial length of that part of the sleeve 4 of the upper pipe element 2, in whose interior the core 6 is lacking, the result is that between the two pipe elements 1 and 2, after their connection, an intermediary space is formed which is divided into four segments by the ribs on the core 5 for a purpose which will be explained in the following.

In accordance with FIG. 1, the upper pipe element 2 is provided between its ends withan annular recess 8 extending over the entire radial thickness of the sleeve 4. This recess 8 forms an intermediary space in the manner of a gap, which is subdivided by the ribs of the core 6 and whose purpose likewise will be explained in the following. I

As upper closure of the supporting column is formed by a cap 9 which is mounted on the projecting core 6 of the upper pipe element 2, the axial length of said cap being smaller than the axial length of the projecting part of the core 6. After the placement of the cap 9 the upper end of the supporting column is also provided with an intermediary space or chamber similar to the lower intermediary space or chamber 7.

In order to prevent an unintentional removal of the cap 9, the latter is provided with an inwardly extending pin 10, which after placement of the cap 9 on the core 6 and rotation of the cap enters into a corresponding recess 1 1 in the ribs of the core 6.

The previously mentioned intermediary spaces 7 are provided for the purpose of receiving hook-shaped formed supporting members, which form parts of supporting elements or stiffening elements, such as horizontal or vertical plates, shelves, brackets, struts, or the like, necessary for the construction of frame-like structures such as supporting frames, book-shelves, framework-bases, podiums and the like, which require several supporting columns. FIG. 2 shows by way of example a cutaway section of a shelf structure.

The corner part of the shelf, shown in FIG. 2 has an upper horizontal surface 12, namely, the supporting surface of the shelf, which is provided with two downwardly directed side flanges 13 and 14. At the corner formed by the side flanges 13 and 14 is attached a vertical angle-profile-member 15, whose vertical legs are tapered towards its ends. The shelf and the angleprofile-member 15 are so constructed, that the width of the flange of the angle-profile-member 15 along the non-slanted part is equal to the radial width of the ribs on the cores 5 and 6, while the height of the flanges 13 and 14 of the shelf is equal to the vertical length of the non-tapered portion of the angle-profile-member l5 and also is equal to the axial length of the intermediary space 7 (FIG. 1

The corner part of the shelf shown in FIG. 2 is now arranged in the following manner on the supporting column of FIG. 1. In a core sector of the lower pipe element 1, on which has not yet been placed the upper pipe element 2, the lower part of the angle-profilemember 15 is inserted until the lower horizontal edge of the flange 13 of the shelf engages the upper end surface of the sleeve 3. Then the upper pipe element 2 is placed on the core 3 and simultaneously on the upper part of the angle-profile-member 15 until the end surface of the sleeve 4 of the upper pipe element 2 engages the horizontal surface 12 of the shelf in which case the cores 5, 6 of the two pipe elements 1, 2 abut one another. On account of the similar widths of the ribs of the core and of the arms of the angle-profile-member l5, and in view of the tapered end parts of the angleprofile-member 15, the latter is keyed between the ribs of the core 5 and the sleeves 3 and 4 of the two pipe elements 1 and 2, so that without any additional fastening elements, such as screws or pins, a secure anchoring of the corner part of the shelf is attained with the supporting column and simultaneously a secure connection of the two pipe elements 1 and 2. All four corner parts of the shelf are constructed in the manner shown in FIG. 2, so that the shelf may be secured to four supporting columns arranged in spaced relation to one another.

In a simpler form of the invention, the angle-profilemember may project only from the lower or upper side of the shelf, that is, it may extend either upwardly over the supporting surface 12 or downwardly thereform, but beyond the lower edges of the flanges 13 and 14. A shelf provided with such angle-profilemembers is then anchored solely to one of the two telescoped pipe elements of the supporting columns. For many uses, modified arrangement is sufficient as regards strength and stability.

In place of the angle-profile-member, other supporting members may be used. For example, the supporting member may be formed integrally with the shelf of FIG. 2, in that the two flanges 13 and 14 adjacent the corner edge are provided with a vertical slot which opens downwardly, so that the corner forms a lug. This lug can be introduced into an intermediary space formed between two ribs of the core of the supporting column (FIG. 1) and then may be pushed downwardly into the pipe element 1, whereby the wall of the sleeve 3 enters into the slots.

Other supporting members may be constructed as bar pieces bent at an angle of 90, particularly formed as screw hooks. The latter may serve the purpose of attaching horizontal board-shaped members or vertical board-shaped partitions to the supporting columns.

The pipe elements of the supporting columns or the supporting members, respectively of the supportingor stiffening-elements may also be so constructed, that the axial length of the intermediary chamber 7 (FIG. 1) of the supporting column, in which the sleeve 3 or 4, respectively, is lacking, is at least just as large as the axial length of the supporting member, for example, of the angle-profile-member 15 (FIG. 2). The supporting member in this case may be introduced into the intermediary space and may be put into the lower pipe element 1, if the upper pipe element 2 is already disposed on the lower pipe element 1. The supporting column I may then consist of a single piece instead of two or more telescoped pipe elements. Such a supporting column has a bar-shaped core extending over its entire length and a sleeve enclosing the core, which at predetermined points is removed to a predetermined axial length, so that at these points the core is exposed.

The annular recess 8 shown in FIG. 1 is provided for the reception of one or more supporting members 16 (FIGS. 1 and 3), which are plate-shaped and have the form of a quarter sector of a circle. For example in a frame structure with four vertical supporting columns, each of the supporting columns may have a small supporting plate 16 arranged at equal height, so that a shelf may be laid on these small supporting plates. In place of a small supporting plate, a rail-shaped or angle-shaped supporting member may be pushed into a part of the annular recess 8, whereby this supporting member may be provided with a slot for the reception of a rib on the core.

The supporting column or each pipe element 1, 2, respectively, shown in FIG. 1, may for example consist of a light-weight metal, whereby the outer surface of the sleeve may be eloxadized. For the production, core and sleeve may generally be produced by an extrusion process. If the entire supporting column consists of one piece, then in the range of the intermediary spaces 7 the material of the sleeve 3, 4 is removed by means of a turning operation. If the supporting column is made of several pipe elements 1, 2, then at the ends of each pipe element, the sleeve or the core,respectively, are removed by means of a turning operation. Also the annular recesses 8 may be produced in simpler manner by means of a turning operation performed on the supporting column or on the pipe elements, respectively.

Alternatively, the supporting column or each pipe element, respectively, may also be produced from a sleeve and a separate core, in that the core profile is pressed into the sleeve.

In place of a sleeve with circular cross-section according to FIG. 1, it is also possible to employ a sleeve with a square, rectangularly-shaped or other shaped cross-section. FIG. 4 shows a horizontal section of the pipe element 2 of FIG. 1 with the sleeve 4 and a crossshaped core 6, whereby the sector-shaped intermediary space has attached thereto the shelf of FIG. 2 with the supporting surface 12 and the angle-profile-member 15, while the annular recess has inserted therein the small supporting plate 16 of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows in section the same arrangement with a pipe element which has a square sleeve 17, within which a crossshaped core 18 is located. A small supporting plate 19 has here likewise a square shape. The square sleeve 17 of FIG. 5 has the advantage that separated and subsequent telescoped core and sleeve do not require a press fit in order to secure the two parts tightly into one another. Rather the core 18 may be introduced into the sleeve 17 and then rotated so far until the ribs of the core are perpendicular to the internal walls of the sleeve. In this connection the ribs of the core are wedged in the interior of the sleeve, so that a tight connection between the sleeve and the core is attained.

The sleeve of the supporting columns may also be provided with longitudinal slots 20, which permit the attachment of additional constructural elements of a frame-type structure, such as partitions and the like.

FIG. 6 shows such a supporting column in cross-section. I

Obviously, each supporting column or each pipe element may have intermediary chambers, recesses and slots of the described type in the desired number and combination. Several supporting columns of the described type may be provided with supporting elements which are inserted or suspended from the same, such as shelves or strut elements, or also as angleor straight-elements, separating plates, etc., to form frame-type structures of manifold construction.

As compared with known supporting columns, the supporting column of the invention has countless advantages. For one thing, whether it is constructed in one piece or made of several pipe elements, it is easily produced at'nominal costs. The combination of several pipe elements does not require special connecting elements or special tools. A disassembly is easily possible, and does not cause any damage to the pipe elements. The described supporting column may be made by a selection of pipe elements of corresponding lengths and recesses of any desired length and with intermediary spaces or recesses, respectively arranged as desired for the arrangement of supporting members. Likewise, the construction of the supporting column is not limited to any dimensions such as outer diameter and inside diameter of the pipe elements. Furthermore, the supporting column described has a high stability, and particularly is stable against buckling and permits of a play-free attachment of supporting members or supporting elements, respectively. The attachment of the supporting members to the supporting column does not require additional special fastening elements and may be accomplished without difficulty by unskilled workers.

What i claim is:

1. Supporting column to which supporting members may be attached, comprising at least one longitudinal member composed of a sleeve having disposed therein a lengthwise extending core having four lengthwise extending radial ribs arranged at right angles to each other, the outer longitudinal edges of which are fixedly secured the inner wall of said sleeve, said sleeve being interrupted at least at one place along said supporting column over its entire circumference to expose said core for inserting into the spaces formed between each two ribs of said core a supporting member which, when its other end axially beyond the end its core therein, the

axial length of the projecting part of the core on the other sleeve is greater than the length of the portion of the sleeve which telescopically engages said core.

3. Supporting column according to claim 1, in which said sleeve at least at one place is provided with a slot extending around the entire periphery of said sleeve, and including a plate-shaped supporting member inserted into said slot and into a space formed between two of said ribs and in communication with said slot.

4. Supporting column according to claim 1, m WhlCh said core projects with one end axially beyond the end of the sleeve and a cap on said projecting endof said core, the height of said cap being smaller than the length of the projecting part of said core, so that a space is formed between the lower edge of said cap and the adjacent end of said sleeve.

5. Supporting column according to claim 1, in which said core projects with one end axially beyond the end of the sleeve, a cap on said projecting end of said core, the height of said cap being smaller than the length of the projecting part of said core, so that a space is formed between the lower edge of said cap and the adjacent end of said sleeve, and means for locking said cap on said core.

6. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said sleeve has a circular cross-section.

7. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said sleeve has a square cross-section.

8. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said longitudinal member is made by a material molded by extrusion, said material being selected from the group consisting of a light-weight metal, a nonferrous metal and a plastic.

9. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said sleeve and core constitute an integral part.

10. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said core is press fitted into said sleeve.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE CERTEFICATE OF CQRREC'HQN Patent No. Dated October 17, 1972 Inventor(s) HERMANN MULLER It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The inventor's name appearing in the printed copy should be: HERMANN E 13, MULLER.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of March 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-OSO (IO-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 W U.5 GOVERNMENT PRINYING OFFICE I969 O-366334 

1. Supporting column to which supporting members may be attached, comprising at least one longitudinal member composed of a sleeve having disposed therein a lengthwise extending core having four lengthwise extending radial ribs arranged at right angles to each other, the outer longitudinal edges of which are fixedly secured the inner wall of said sleeve, said sleeve being interrupted at least at one place along said supporting column over its entire circumference to expose said core for inserting into the spaces formed between each two ribs of said core a supporting member which, when inserted in said spaces, engages said ribs and extends outwardly from said column.
 2. Supporting column according to claim 1, in which said longitudinal member comprises at least two axially connected sleeves each of which has a core fixedly secured therein, and one of said sleeves having one of its ends telescopically and removably inserted therein a portion of the core projecting from one end of the other sleeve, said first mentioned sleeve projecting with its other end axially beyond the end its core therein, the axial length of the projecting part of the core on the other sleeve is greater than the length of the portion of the sleeve which telescopically engages said core.
 3. Supporting column according to claim 1, in which said sleeve at least at one place is provided with a slot extending around the entire periphery of said sleeve, and including a plate-shaped supporting member inserted into said slot and into a space formed between two of said ribs and in communication with said slot.
 4. Supporting column according to claim 1, in which said core projects with one end axially beyond the end of the sleeve and a cap on said projecting end of said core, the height of said cap being smaller than the length of the projecting part of said core, so that a space is formed between the lower edge of said cap and the adjacent end of said sleeve.
 5. Supporting column according to claim 1, in which said core projects with one end axially beyond the end of the sleeve, a cap on said projecting end of said core, the height of said cap being smaller than the length of the projecting part of said core, so that a space is formed between the lower edge of said cap and the adjacent end of said sleeve, and means for locking said cap on said core.
 6. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said sleeve has a circular cross-section.
 7. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said sleeve has a square cross-section.
 8. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said longitudinal member is made by a material molded by extrusion, said material being selected from the group consisting of a light-weight metal, a nonferrous metal and a plastic.
 9. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said sleeve and core constitute an integral part.
 10. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said core is press fitted into saId sleeve. 